Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Jia Cong pondered for a moment and said, "Why do bandits suddenly appear all over the place?"

"Both Qiao Qianhu and Beizhi thought that someone might have done it deliberately to disrupt the overall situation," Wen Youfang said.

Jia Cong nodded slightly and said, "Does the Governor's Office know?"

"I don't know."

"Inform Governor Gu quickly and tell him that I will go to the Governor's Mansion later to discuss it in detail."

"Yes. In addition, Qiao, Kong, and Jie, three thousand households, have gathered their troops and are waiting for your orders."

"Well, Qiao Yin keeps an eye on the ground in Jinling. There must be no chaos in Jinling! You can do things cheaply. Kong and Jie go to the Governor's Mansion first to wait for orders."

"I humbly obey my orders!" Wen Youfang accepted the order and left.

"Take me to wear my clothes, order two hundred men and horses, and leave half of them to look after the house." Jia Cong said.

"Yes, Third Master." Yan Shuangying bowed and stepped back.

Jia Cong asked Sister Feng and others to come out and sit down. Everyone was silent, knowing that Jia Cong was going to send troops again.

After pondering for a long time, Jia Cong suddenly smiled and said, "Bring me some rice. Eat first before going to kill the thief."

Qingwen hurriedly brought him a large bowl of rice.

The girls all looked worried as they watched Jia Cong eating and drinking the slightly cold dishes.

"Brother Cong...eat slowly and choke carefully." Baochai said softly.

Jia Cong said vaguely: "People everywhere are suffering, and I cannot tolerate any delay."

After eating like a storm, Jia Cong wiped his mouth and said, "Sister Bao, you will stay here for the next few days to take care of everything."

Baochai nodded quickly: "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Jia Cong glanced at the girls, nodded and said: "Don't worry, they are just a bunch of bandits, not worth mentioning. I'm going, take care of yourself."

"You must be careful." the girls warned.

"Well, don't worry." Jia Cong stood up and left without talking nonsense.

When he reached the door, he suddenly turned around and warned: "By the way, I'm not in Jinling. If you don't see my handwritten letter, you are not allowed to go anywhere. Be careful of fraud."

"Don't worry, we will wait for you to come back at home." Baochai said.

"Well, then I'm relieved." Jia Cong smiled and strode away.
-

Liangjiang Governor's Office

Gu Tao had received the news and quickly summoned the governor Chen Zhongjian, the envoy Weng Yunzhi, the envoy Tan Yao, and the chief military officer of the Southern Province Wang Shun for discussion.

Suddenly I heard that Jia Cong was visiting and I was busy asking him to come in.

Seeing that Jia Cong was dressed in military uniform, his armor was cold and his expression was stern, everyone hurriedly stood up to greet him.

Jia Cong waved his hand, went to sit down under Gu Tao, and said, "I don't need to be a formality. Do you have any suggestions?"

The chief envoy Weng Yunzhi stood up with his beard twisted, pointed to the sand table of the Jiangnan terrain in the middle of the hall, and said: "Just now we have discussed with the Taiwan Chief, and we foolishly thought that banditry would suddenly break out without any warning in advance.

Now that the enemy's situation is unclear, it is still necessary to hold on to key areas and remain unchanged in the face of ever-changing situations. "

Wang Shun, the chief military officer, said: "What Fan Tai said is very true. For the current plan, we must first protect Jinling, Yangzhou, Suzhou, Taizhou, Huai'an and other key places, and order all states and counties to close the city gates tightly and not to leave.

After finding out the enemy's situation, we can then slowly map it out. "As he said this, he planted small flags at important places on the sand table.

Tan Yao, the inspector, nodded and said: "This is a safe method. As long as these few points are not missed, there will be no chaos in Jiangnan."

Gu Tao frowned and said, "Brother Shiru, do you have any ideas?"

Governor Chen Zhongjian said calmly: "I think what my colleagues said is a mature and prudent statement. In the land south of the Yangtze River, stability should be the top priority.

If there is great chaos in this place, the country will be shaken. The so-called banditry is just a disease of scabies, so why worry about it? "

"If this is the case, doesn't it mean that we are letting the thieves commit crimes? The bandits are wreaking havoc outside, how can we do nothing? No way!" Gu Tao said coldly.

Weng Yunzhi said: "Master Taitai's words are wrong. We are trying our best to protect the vital and precious land, so how can we do nothing?

Bandits have been a problem for a long time. Why bother to go to war with others when they can just plunder?

If this makes the important land empty, if something goes wrong, it will be a big disaster! I am a public-minded person and hope you will think twice. "

Jia Cong couldn't bear it anymore and sneered: "A bunch of stupid pigs!"

"What do you mean by that, Uncle Dang?"

"Why is Admiral Jia so rude?"

"Master Jia, if you have a high opinion, you might as well say it directly, why bother speaking harshly."

Everyone frowned.

Jia Cong said: "A few bandits scared you so much that you couldn't get out, and you left countless people to be killed by bandits. Are you worthy of being a parent official?"

"It's a joke. Things have their own priorities. How can you ignore the small and lose the big?"

"How can I just act on my whim when I take the overall situation into consideration?"

Everyone refuted it in unison.

"Shut the hell up!"

Jia Cong slapped the table, turned to look at Gu Tao, and said in a deep voice: "Master Taiwan, if you hesitate to make a decision and sit back and watch the banditry intensify, Jiangnan will be corrupted and the overall situation will be defeated. Why should you treat the emperor?"

Gu Tao nodded, knowing that he was talking about the new law, and said decisively: "Commander Wang, I order you to mobilize your troops immediately to quell the banditry!"

Wang Shun frowned and said: "Master Tai Tai, the soldiers in Jiangnan have always been weak and have low morale. They can defend the city fairly well, but if they fight in the field, they are not sure.

If we lose troops and generals as a result, it will be a small matter, but important places such as Jinling, Suzhou, and Yangzhou will be in danger! Please think twice. "

"Please think twice and don't act brave for a moment." Everyone advised together.

Although Gu Tao is experienced in government affairs, he has never fought in a war and is not very familiar with military matters. He was a little shaken after hearing this and looked at Jia Cong.

Jia Cong nodded towards him, and finally understood why Gu Tao had not done anything for many years. With the constraints of this old party, it was really difficult to use his skills.

Because he said: "Don't worry, Mr. Tai, the banditry is just a threat. Cong turns his hand and quells it! Mr. Wang, since the Governor has given the order, why don't you quickly mobilize your troops? Do you want to support your troops and respect yourself?"

Wang Shun said calmly: "I am responsible for the safety of a whole province, how dare I abandon my roots and pursue my inferiors?

The governor-general Jun's order must be obeyed, but both Futai and Fantai have objections. It can be seen that this matter still needs to be discussed, how can we act rashly?

This is a local matter, and Uncle Jia seems to have no right to interfere. Why not ask the Jin Yiwei to quickly find out the information, so that we don't have to be blind and touch the elephant. "

Jia Cong looked up to the sky and laughed, pointed his halberd and shouted: "I am responsible for defending loyalists and traitors, punishing traitors, and putting down rebellions. Do you dare to say that I have no right to interfere? You are looking for death!"

As he spoke, he stepped forward and the sword in his hand shot out like a half full moon across the sky.

laugh! With a soft sound, a head flew up, and blood rushed to the roof like a fountain.

Everyone was shocked and backed away.

Snapped! A head fell on the sand table, with a hint of horror and a hint of disbelief in his eyes. Apparently he didn't expect that Jia Cong would kill someone if they disagreed.

"You... you want to rebel?!" Chen Zhongjian and others said in a trembling voice. The commander-in-chief of the first province and the second-grade military attaché killed at will, which is almost the same as rebellion.

Jia Cong sneered and said: "I am holding the king's command flag. What's the point of killing the general soldiers in the mainland? If you don't surrender, go join me!"

"Okay! You are cruel, you are cruel." Chen Zhongjian and others said through gritted teeth.

Jia Cong said: "Think clearly, the King of Liao can't defeat me, and I can't even join forces with Dongchang and Beitang. Who do you think you are?

I didn't come to check on you, but you still dared to yell in front of me when it was time to burn incense. Get out of here! "

"Okay, okay!" Chen Zhongjian and others walked away.

"Slow down!" Gu Tao suddenly spoke and said calmly: "Come here, send all the gentlemen down to rest. Before the banditry is over, the governor has many important matters that I need to discuss with all the gentlemen from time to time." This is a disguised form of house arrest.

"Taiwan Master wants to imprison us?" Chen Zhongjian frowned. After all, he is also a frontier official with a royal order. Gu Tao said with a smile: "How dare you, how dare you, Brother Shiru said something serious, but this matter is important, and I still need to ask for advice from time to time, so I will keep you here for a few days. If I offend you, please forgive me."

After saying that, he waved his hand and a sergeant came to the door and took several people away.

Jia Cong nodded and said: "Master Taitai is still thoughtful. If these people are allowed to go out and stir up trouble, the banditry will be difficult to quell."

Gu Tao smiled bitterly and said: "Brother, I am not good at military affairs, so I have to rely on my virtuous brother. If the banditry becomes serious, I am afraid that our future will be in trouble, and the old party in the DPRK will never let us go."

"Don't worry, sir, Cong will do his best."

"Just let it go."

Jia Cong nodded and shouted: "Come here!"

Qiao Yin, Kongxing, and Xie Hui came in, clasped their fists and said, "Please give me your orders, the admiral."

"Immediately go to the General Army's Yamen with the king's order flag and get the tiger talisman. Anyone who blocks his way will be killed. In addition, the deputy general, the generals, the guerrillas, and the Jinling garrison will come to see you."

"Yes!"

"Youfang, please tell us in detail about the banditry situation."

"Yes." Wen Youfang walked to the sand table and said: "Your Excellency, Governor Gu, it was reported that about two days ago, several groups of Japanese pirates of about 3,000 people landed from various places along the coast of Huai'an Prefecture and Yangzhou Prefecture. Rufeng has looted Clam Harbor, Miaowan Town, Yukou Town, Yangzhai Township, Maluo Township, Liujiazhuang and other places...

There were more than 2,000 water bandits from the Dahe Gang, and they went south along the canal, looting Sanyi Town, Matou Town, Qingjiangpu and other places, heading straight towards Yangzhou...

There are nearly 3,000 Taihu water bandits, attacking from left and right, causing harm to Suzhou and Changzhou. They have plundered the three towns of Mudu, Hengtang and Guangfu in Wuxian County, as well as Yixinghu Town and Zhangzhu Town...

There were also more than 2,000 green forest bandits from Bison Ridge, Laohuya, and Heifengzhai, who raided Guangzhou and plundered the three towns of Chenyang, Guang'an, and Taozhou... killing countless people and leaving corpses everywhere. "

Gu Tao followed Wen Youfang's instructions on the sand table and already made a judgment in his mind. He sneered: "I assert that this is a man-made disaster!"

Jia Cong said: "This matter is strange. Let's not worry about anything else. Putting an end to the chaos is more important."

Gu Tao nodded: "My virtuous brother is a fierce general on the battlefield. He has traveled thousands of miles and conquered Wuhuan. But if he has a high opinion, I will obey your orders."

"Thank you for your trust, Sir. Cong thinks that if you want to quell the rebellion, you need eight words."

"Which eight characters?"

"Move like thunder, with clear rewards and punishments!"

"Well, that's a very good statement. I'd like to hear the details." Gu Tao nodded while twirling his beard.

"Cong thought..."

The two discussed for a long time, and a dozen people outside the door asked to see them. They were the remaining generals of the general military office.

Gu Tao came to see him.

As soon as everyone entered the door, they saw the head of the Commander-in-Chief on the table with blood all over the floor. They hurriedly knelt down and said, "I will see you later, Mr. Governor."

"Now that bandits are raging in the south of the Yangtze River, I have entrusted Admiral Jia with full authority to put an end to the rebellion. I have called you here to listen to the order." Gu Tao said.

"General, I will obey your orders." Everyone said in unison.

Jia Cong smiled coldly, played with the troop mobilization order talisman presented by Qiao Yin, and said: "Wang Shun disobeyed the military order and was killed by the governor. Can you recognize me?"

"At last, I will see Admiral Jia." Everyone kowtows hurriedly.

"The governor is now giving orders to quell the chaos. Is there anyone who refuses to give orders?"

"I will obey your Lord Jun's orders."

"Okay!" Jia Cong shouted: "Where is the deputy commander-in-chief!"

"The general is here!"

"I order you to sit in the General Military Office, raise food and fodder, prepare ordnance, mobilize troops and horses, and assist the Governor in guarding various parts of the southern province! But if there is anything wrong, kill him!

Orders are given to all local defense posts, who are responsible for guarding the territory, and whoever is afraid of the enemy and avoids fighting will be killed by officials of hundreds of households and above! Anyone who kills the first level of the thief will be rewarded with ten taels of silver. Those who achieve ten levels will be promoted to one level. "

"The general will get the order!"

"Where is the general?"

"The general is here!" the four generals hurriedly bowed.

"You lead 3,000 people to Guangzhou to support the suppression of bandits. Kong Xing leads the Tiqi supervisory army. But if anyone is greedy for life and afraid of death, kill them all!"

"The general will get the order!"

"You lead three thousand people to Changzhou and Suzhou to wipe out the Taihu water bandits. Xie Hui leads the Tiqi supervisory army. But if there are any who are greedy for life and afraid of death, they will all be killed!"

"The general will get the order!"

"You two each bring 3,000 men, and follow me north to Yangzhou and Huai'an to wipe out the Dahe Gang water bandits and Japanese pirates!"

"The general will get the order!"

"How many troops are left in Jinling now?"

The deputy commander hurriedly said: "Excluding the troops mobilized just now, there are still 20,000 people left. In addition, there are more than 3,000 people in the Jinling garrison office."

"Damn it, the Jinling Dynasty is threatening the hinterland, and only these people are left? You are eating too much even if you are on empty wages." Jia Cong was furious.

The generals hurriedly said: "My lord, it is Commander Wang who is greedy. The generals and others have repeatedly tried to persuade me. I am really ashamed."

Now that Wang Shun is dead, there is no evidence of his death. If he doesn’t take the blame, who will? It can be considered as sacrificing the little you to fulfill the greater self.

Jia Cong laughed angrily and said, "I won't argue with you if you ask Lao Wang to top the tank. If you fail to quell the chaos, you know the consequences!"

The generals were shocked and said hurriedly: "The last general will sacrifice his life to kill the thief and serve the imperial court."

"Forget it, pass on my military order and leave three thousand people to guard Jinling. I will send the rest out to set up checkpoints to guard the water and land routes in various places. All people coming and going will be strictly checked.

If the thieves and bandits are allowed to escape from the pass, all the officials guarding the pass and above will be killed!

Have people patrol both sides of the Yangtze River. If the enemies on the north bank cross the river and go south, or if the enemies on the south bank cross the river and go north, all the officials and above from the hundreds of households guarding the river will be killed! "

"The last general has the order!" the deputy commander hurriedly bowed.

"Qiao Yin, wearing royal robes and guarding the various security stations, will do his best to investigate the bandits and bandits, and report to all places quickly. Anyone who delays the military intelligence will be killed!"

"Yes! I humbly obey my orders."

"Everyone goes and delivers the order! The whole army will set off in an hour!" Jia Cong waved his hand and dismissed the generals.

"Yes!" everyone said in unison.

Gu Tao saw that Jia Cong was commanding calmly and had the air of a general. Thinking of his past achievements, Gu Tao felt more at ease and said with a smile: "With my good brother here, I can rest easy."

Jia Cong said: "Thank you for your praise, Mr. Tai. As the saying goes, you can't attract ghosts without family members."

The banditry was fierce this time. Wherever it went, it was like splitting bamboo, and it accurately avoided the areas guarded by the government troops. It was obvious that someone had tipped off the news, and this person was well aware of the reality of the Jiangnan defenders, and was not an ordinary person. "

Gu Tao nodded and said, "Heroes see the same thing."

"So Cong is worried that if someone makes trouble in Jinling after I leave, your Excellency, Jinling, and Jiangnan will be in danger." Jia Cong said in a deep voice.

Gu Tao was horrified. He had not considered this aspect. If this happened, the consequences would be disastrous. He pondered for a while and said: "There are thousands of soldiers and horses in Jinling now. The city is high and the walls are thick. How dare you, a traitor?"

Jia Cong shook his head and said: "The strongest fortress is always breached from within."

Gu Tao frowned and nodded slowly, having to guard against this.

Jia Cong said: "There are so many big families in Jinling. If these people unite, the disaster will be huge. Cong has ordered the Jinyi Guards to take strict precautions. Sir, please be careful."

Gu Tao said in a deep voice: "My dear brother Jin Yu has good advice, I should act with caution."

"Take care of the table, and Cong is gone." Jia Cong nodded. Gu Tao, a famous minister of his generation, naturally knew how to do it. (End of chapter)